Thursday, August 14, 2008

Naandi – In The Final Race

The 2008 Global Development Marketplace (DM2008) is a grant competition held in collaboration with the Agriculture and Rural Development team of the World Bank entitled “ Sustainable Agriculture for Development,” and it is supported by the Global Environment Facility ,International Finance Corporation and other Partners.

The competition is looking towards three sub themes includes-a) Linking small scale farmers to input output markets.b) Improving land access and tenure for the poor.c) Promoting the environmental services of agriculture in addressing climate change and biodiversity conservation.

In this event called DM2008 Marketplace Event,among the list of 100 finalist across 7 regions Naandi is in the list of South Asian region contenders. Naandi has achieved this position for its Organic Coffee Cultivation in Araku Valley . Its attempt to empower the tribal people of Araku has really proved to be successful.

The 100 finalists selected on June 23rd ,2008 were invited to the World Bank headquarters in Washington D.C. On September 24-26th,2008.

This competition will provide a big platform to turn an innovative idea for sustainable agriculture into reality. A huge grant funding of around US$200,000 which will be funded for 2 years to the best innovative idea based on selection will be decided by a bank of jury comprising of International Development Experts.

So,its time for Naandi to turn its idea into reality,moreover - an idea can change lives,and

Naandi has always a better idea.

The list of the South Asian Contenders are given below and Naandi is marked-